Slice and dice on our selection of cutting boards. Vance® 15' x 12' Tempered Glass Surface-Saver Cutting Board with Fresh Brew Design. Model #: 81512BRW Online Price. $22.99 Shipping - Free! Vance® 20' x 16' Tempered Glass Surface-Saver Cutting Board with Blue Border.
14Oct
Categories:Project Plans
Outside of workshop-oriented projects like workbenches and router tables, there’s no simple project like the cutting board that attracts and challenges new and experienced woodworkers alike. With Christmas around the corner it’s time to justify that garage full of woodworking tools with something BESIDES those dorky Star Wars projects of yours ;)
>> 4 Overachiever Cutting Board Designs That Blew My Mind
>> 3 End Grain Cutting Board Plans
>> 6 Laminated Long Grain Cutting Board Plans
>> 3 No Frills Cutting Boards
>> 4 Cutting Boards PLUS
>> Cutting Board Design Inspiration
>> 5 Video Guides to Building Your Own Cutting Boards
>> More Cutting Board Resources
>> More Free Woodworking Plans
>> 3 End Grain Cutting Board Plans
>> 6 Laminated Long Grain Cutting Board Plans
>> 3 No Frills Cutting Boards
>> 4 Cutting Boards PLUS
>> Cutting Board Design Inspiration
>> 5 Video Guides to Building Your Own Cutting Boards
>> More Cutting Board Resources
>> More Free Woodworking Plans
>> 4 Overachiever Cutting Board Designs That Blew My Mind
Is it any coincidence that all of these are end grain cutting boards? Probably not – you can really show off your creativity and wood pairings with end grain cutting boards. These four designers – to put it simply – blew my mind. Three of the four I selected also provided detailed tutorials, though if you’re just getting started in woodworking I’d look for something a bit simpler…
Is it any coincidence that all of these are end grain cutting boards? Probably not – you can really show off your creativity and wood pairings with end grain cutting boards. These four designers – to put it simply – blew my mind. Three of the four I selected also provided detailed tutorials, though if you’re just getting started in woodworking I’d look for something a bit simpler…
1) Construct these beautiful end grain Cutting boards
From LumberJock dewoodwork, whose cutting boards are the most beautiful I saw out of all the plans, guides and tutorials currently on the web. His tutorial rocks too, though I think this is one that the newbies might want to hold off on ;)
From LumberJock dewoodwork, whose cutting boards are the most beautiful I saw out of all the plans, guides and tutorials currently on the web. His tutorial rocks too, though I think this is one that the newbies might want to hold off on ;)
2) Video Game Themed Cutting Boards
Space Invaders
Also see – Legend of Zelda Triforce Cutting Board
No plans available for these, but they’ve made quite an impression on the Star Wars woodworking community ;) According to the creator’s blog he works part time in his father’s cabinet shop and spends the rest of his time… well it used to be playing video games but NOW he’s cranking out these cutting boards for online retailers :D Here’s his blog, 1337Motif >> where it appears he’s working on Pac Man next…
Space Invaders
Also see – Legend of Zelda Triforce Cutting Board
No plans available for these, but they’ve made quite an impression on the Star Wars woodworking community ;) According to the creator’s blog he works part time in his father’s cabinet shop and spends the rest of his time… well it used to be playing video games but NOW he’s cranking out these cutting boards for online retailers :D Here’s his blog, 1337Motif >> where it appears he’s working on Pac Man next…
3) Mike Schwing’s Cutting Boards
Beautiful, innovative and creative. These cutting board designs and tutorials from Mike Schwing are incredible. Schwing put these together for the SawmillCreek.org woodworking community.
Cutting Boards Tutorial (Mike Sching)
Beautiful, innovative and creative. These cutting board designs and tutorials from Mike Schwing are incredible. Schwing put these together for the SawmillCreek.org woodworking community.
Cutting Boards Tutorial (Mike Sching)
4) Vaughn McMillan’s Workingwoods 3D Cutting Board Tutorial
Gorgeous, huh? He’s also made one based on a quilt square that is astounding too. Vaughn’s a seasoned yet still friendly moderator over at FamilyWoodworking, a favorite woodworking forum of mine that started up as an alternative to SawmillCreek.org.
3-D Board Tutorial
Gorgeous, huh? He’s also made one based on a quilt square that is astounding too. Vaughn’s a seasoned yet still friendly moderator over at FamilyWoodworking, a favorite woodworking forum of mine that started up as an alternative to SawmillCreek.org.
3-D Board Tutorial
>> 3 End Grain Cutting Board Plans
Since we started with mostly end grain cutting boards I thought I’d finish with them first rather than rushing into the laminated long grains… Enjoy!
Since we started with mostly end grain cutting boards I thought I’d finish with them first rather than rushing into the laminated long grains… Enjoy!
5) Scrapwood and Endgrain Cutting Boards
While I don’t think this one would be easy for newbies, I think it would be easier than those mentioned above. This simple, gorgeous design is accompanied by easy to follow photographs. It’s great inspiration from Router Jim over there at Woodworkers Zone (another SMC spin off?)
End Grain Cutting Boards
While I don’t think this one would be easy for newbies, I think it would be easier than those mentioned above. This simple, gorgeous design is accompanied by easy to follow photographs. It’s great inspiration from Router Jim over there at Woodworkers Zone (another SMC spin off?)
End Grain Cutting Boards
6) End Grain Cutting Board Plans (pdf) by Ron Jones, via Marc Spagnuolo
This design comes from the cutting board that Marc Spagnuolo made in Episode 7 “A Cut Above…” The plan itself is courtesy of Ron Jones.
This design comes from the cutting board that Marc Spagnuolo made in Episode 7 “A Cut Above…” The plan itself is courtesy of Ron Jones.
7) How to Make End-Grain Cutting Boards
No pictures, just written advice. Solid though.
No pictures, just written advice. Solid though.
>> 6 Laminated Long Grain Cutting Board Plans
It looks to me like the laminated long grain (also called flat grain) cutting boards are a bit easier to make than the end grains, especially those above. Long grain cutting boards have a tendency to wear out more quickly than the end grain cutting boards, but they sure do look great. Here are some plans:
It looks to me like the laminated long grain (also called flat grain) cutting boards are a bit easier to make than the end grains, especially those above. Long grain cutting boards have a tendency to wear out more quickly than the end grain cutting boards, but they sure do look great. Here are some plans:
8) Small Maple Cutting Board
Simple, pretty cutting boards made of maple and cherry.
Simple, pretty cutting boards made of maple and cherry.
9) Make a Butcher Block Cutting Board
From the Lowe’s site: “This is a great weekend project for a beginning woodworker.”
From the Lowe’s site: “This is a great weekend project for a beginning woodworker.”
10) Awesome Cutting Boards!
From Instructables: “how to make hardwood cutting boards out of maple and cherry scraps.”
From Instructables: “how to make hardwood cutting boards out of maple and cherry scraps.”
11) Cutting Board
Definitely not the best guide, but hey maybe you’ll get something out of his description?
Definitely not the best guide, but hey maybe you’ll get something out of his description?
12) Lee’s Wood Projects – How to Make a Cutting Board
Gorgeous, huh? Who said that the end grain cutting boards had all the fun? Another great guide from Lee.
Gorgeous, huh? Who said that the end grain cutting boards had all the fun? Another great guide from Lee.
13) Board stiff
This plan is for quite a behemoth of a cutting board…
This plan is for quite a behemoth of a cutting board…
>> 3 No Frills Cutting Boards
Mostly these use one piece of wood. These are great places for brand new woodworkers to start.
Mostly these use one piece of wood. These are great places for brand new woodworkers to start.
14) Hardwood Cutting Board – No Frills
Very simple. Good basic ideas and suggestions. From Chris Baylor.
Very simple. Good basic ideas and suggestions. From Chris Baylor.
![Designer Designer](http://img11.nnm.me/a/d/a/0/b/ada0b23e3a8f5a79492d9b5b630606f3_full.jpg)
15) How to Make a Mini Wood Cheese Board
16) Cutting Boards
Wood suggestions, basic instructions on the care of a cutting board. Decent instruction. A little weak on illustrations though.
Wood suggestions, basic instructions on the care of a cutting board. Decent instruction. A little weak on illustrations though.
>> 4 Cutting Boards PLUS
Rolling cutting boards, cutting boards designed to fit around your favorite bowl, cutting boards that defied my other categories… You’ll find them all here!
Rolling cutting boards, cutting boards designed to fit around your favorite bowl, cutting boards that defied my other categories… You’ll find them all here!
17) How to Make and Treat a Cutting Board – Four Feet + Bowl Cut Out
Nice! This is one cutting board that aint goin nowhere. It’s a solid piece that sports a cutout so that it’s easy to move your choppings into a bowl with out a mess. Wow.
Nice! This is one cutting board that aint goin nowhere. It’s a solid piece that sports a cutout so that it’s easy to move your choppings into a bowl with out a mess. Wow.
18) How to Make a Custom Cutting Board (fits inside your counter…)
19) Block and roll… Cutting Board on a Rolling Cart
I couldn’t put it any better than they put it themselves: “a primo cutting surface atop a rolling cart – this portable unit increases kitchen productivity and jazzes up our humble cutting board!”
I couldn’t put it any better than they put it themselves: “a primo cutting surface atop a rolling cart – this portable unit increases kitchen productivity and jazzes up our humble cutting board!”
20) Vegetable Cutting Board (Designed to Fit With Favorite Bowl)
No pictures for this one… Decent description.
No pictures for this one… Decent description.
>>Cutting Board Design Inspiration
Browse through these galleries for inspiration (if you haven’t gotten enough already).
Black Walnut and Oregon White Oak Cutting Board
Designs by John McLeod Ltd.
Cutting Board Gallery by Ken Goodwin
End Grain Cutting Boards
Browse through these galleries for inspiration (if you haven’t gotten enough already).
Black Walnut and Oregon White Oak Cutting Board
Designs by John McLeod Ltd.
Cutting Board Gallery by Ken Goodwin
End Grain Cutting Boards
>> 5 Video Guides to Building Your Own Cutting Boards
If a picture’s worth 1000 words then a video’s worth 10,000. Here are some great how-to videos from YouTube.
If a picture’s worth 1000 words then a video’s worth 10,000. Here are some great how-to videos from YouTube.
The Wood Whisperer Cutting Board Tutorial Video – A Cut Above (Pt. 1)
The Wood Whisperer Cutting Board Tutorial Video – A Cut Above (Pt. 2)
Fine Woodworking Cutting Board Video How To
Woodworking 101 — Solid Wood Cutting Boards
>> More Cutting Board Resources
Purchasing Cutting Boards, Types of Cutting Boards Seasoning, Sanitizing and Maintaining Cutting Boards
Free Cutting Board Plans
Free Cutting Board Plans
Free Cutting Board Plans
Cutting Board Warping – Question of the Week
Cutting Board Finish………Revisited
OLD for-pay Cutting Board Plans from Woodworkers Journal
Purchasing Cutting Boards, Types of Cutting Boards Seasoning, Sanitizing and Maintaining Cutting Boards
Free Cutting Board Plans
Free Cutting Board Plans
Free Cutting Board Plans
Cutting Board Warping – Question of the Week
Cutting Board Finish………Revisited
OLD for-pay Cutting Board Plans from Woodworkers Journal
>> More Free Woodworking Plans
15 Free Mobile Base Plans: Put Your Power Tools on Wheels
Wood Storage 101: 14 Lumber Storage Plans and 7 Storage Tips
32 Free Picnic Table Plans + Top 3 Most Awesome Picnic Table Plan Awards
15 Free Toolbox Plans for Woodworkers
24 Free Sawhorse Plans in the Hunt for the Ultimate Sawhorse
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Woodworking Workbench Plans
9 Sandpaper Storage Ideas (+ free plans)
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to the Crosscut Sled
15 Free Mobile Base Plans: Put Your Power Tools on Wheels
Wood Storage 101: 14 Lumber Storage Plans and 7 Storage Tips
32 Free Picnic Table Plans + Top 3 Most Awesome Picnic Table Plan Awards
15 Free Toolbox Plans for Woodworkers
24 Free Sawhorse Plans in the Hunt for the Ultimate Sawhorse
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Woodworking Workbench Plans
9 Sandpaper Storage Ideas (+ free plans)
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to Free Router Table Plans
ToolCrib.com’s Ultimate Guide to the Crosscut Sled
Industry Press Room
Read the latest industry news from MRFR, Shenzhen Chainway Information Technology Co., Ltd, Market research future, Consolidated Chassis Management, Navis, and more »Most Read Articles
1. 10 best practices you should be doing now
2. Supply chain strategies: Which one hits the mark?
3. From bean to cup: How Starbucks transformed its supply chain
4. From bean to cup: How Starbucks transformed its supply chain
6. Relationships for supply chain success
8. The real impact of high transportation costs
9. Six steps to successful supply chain collaboration
10. Supply chain segmentation: 10 steps to greater profits
Monetary Matters
By Chris G. Christopher, Jr. and David Deull | From the Quarter 3 2018 issue
Taking the pulse of the American consumer today reveals shifting spending patterns and some areas of concern, but overall a healthy prognosis.
Consumer spending makes up nearly 70 percent of U.S.gross domestic product (GDP) and plays a major role in driving the American economy. Trends in consumer behavior therefore matter for most supply chain managers. So, how is the U.S. consumer sector doing?
Consumer fundamentals are healthy
[Figure 1] Job openings outpace unemployment Enlarge this image
[Figure 2] Real mean household income by quintile Enlarge this image
For the last several years, consumer spending has been the engine that has kept the American economy growing. Between 2014 and 2017, annual growthin inflation-adjusted (real) consumer spending outpaced growth of broader gross domestic product by an average of more than seven-tenths of a percentage point. That dynamic has shifted in 2018, and over the first half of the year, it was real GDP that took the pole position. But this reversal didn't come from a marked slowdown on the consumers' part. After a surge in spending during the fourth quarter of last year, during which a very strong holiday season ushered in a 3.9-percent annualized rate of real consumer spending growth, consumers took a breather in the first quarter of this year, then sprang back into action with a 3.8-percent growth rate in the second.
Surveys of consumer opinion reveal exceptionally positive views on the economy. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index jumped in September to its highest level since September2000, while the mid-October reading of the University of Michigan's measure of consumer sentiment also remained elevated. Measures of consumers' views on whether it is a good time to buy big-ticket items like cars and large appliances are also fairly high.
What is driving this optimism? A very strong jobs picture has also been a major factor. The labor market has been steadily improving during what is now the second-longest economic expansion in American history, and it is unusually 'tight'—companies are reporting a high demand for workers, and it is easier to get a job right now than usual. The rate of headline unemployment—or the number of people who officially say they do not have a job and are looking for work—was 3.7 percent in September, the lowest level in the last 48 years. Additionally, the number of available job openings has been greater than the number of Americans looking for work since this March. (See Figure 1.)
This tightness in the job market is pulling workers who had previously been discouraged in their job searches off the sidelines. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 'U6' measure of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers and those who are part-time but would prefer to be full-time, was 7.5 percent in September, 0.1 point from the lowest since April 2001. And the proportion of 'prime-aged' (25-54) workers who are participating in the labor force—either by working or by looking for work—has been on an upswing since late 2015.
When businesses can't get the workers they need, they often raise wages to make their available positions more attractive or to hold on to the talent they do have. This pressure is finally producing an uptick in aggregate wage growth. Average hourly earnings of all employees of private businesses grew 2.8 percent versus the year before in the third quarter, while the U.S. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries in the second quarter was up 3.0 percent; these readings were both the fastest year-on-year growth rates since the Great Recession. On top of that, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 put some extra cash in workers' pockets as a result of lower tax withholdings. In short, real disposable income is on the rise. In addition, total household net worth has risen strongly in recent years, thanks to growing home and equity prices, and surged past its pre-recession peak in 2012. The result is that American consumers are feeling wealthier—a plus for consumer spending and retail sales.
We have also not yet seen the kind of risky spending behavior that marked the period leading up to the Great Recession. The ratio of household debt payments to disposable income in the US (the 'financial obligations ratio') has only seen a gradual increase since 2014 and remains substantially beneath its pre-recession high. The same goes for the total amount of inflation-adjusted debt carried by the average household. Indeed, this adjusted debt total declined in the first half of 2018. And, as revealed by new data in July, Americans' rate of personal saving has been steady since 2013, holding at a level higher than it was for most of the period since the late 1990s. Consumers are putting more aside for a rainy day than previously thought.
Certainly, there are features of today's consumer economy that could foretell trouble ahead. One wildcard remains the Trump administration's still-escalating tariffs. In addition to disrupting supply chains, ramped-up tariffs on imported goods typically translate into higher prices, cutting into purchasing power. Such price spikes have already become evident for certain types of goods, including washing machines, which were targeted with tariffs in January. Another area of concern is outstanding student loan and auto loan debt, which in the second quarter was upmore than 75 percent since the end of the recession. Such rapid borrowing growth warrants caution.
However, all things considered, the U.S. consumer sector's many strengths are supportive of continued robust spending and lend it the resilience to weather shocks. In order to keep up with the consumer demand that IHS Markit anticipates, businesses will have to rebuild their inventory stocks in the coming quarters.
An inconsistent recovery
In aggregate, things are looking good for the American consumer. However, the gains from the recovery have been distributed unevenly with some sectors of the population recovering faster than others.
As recorded in the U.S. Census's 'Income and Poverty in the United States' report, which was released this September, median real household income grew for the third straight year in 2017, ramping up 1.8 percent. But not everyone has enjoyed an equal share of these income gains. By 2013, only the top 5 percent of households had recovered the same level of average income they had enjoyed in 2008. By 2015, growth of average household income for the top 80 percent of households had risen past the zero mark, but those in the top 20 percent were still far ahead. Even in 2017, the bottom 20 percent of households were still slightly underwater compared to 2008. This imbalance between households at the upper end of the income distribution and households on the lower end worsened in 2016, when the top 5 percent of households saw the fastest relative growth among all the income cohorts. (See Figure 2.)
When looking at household net worth instead of income, the difference is even starker. Median real household net worth in 2016 was still more than 30 percent beneath its level in 2000, thanks to the fact that real estate assets and equities, whose price growth has far outpaced wage growth, tend to be held by wealthier households.
![Cutting board designer free Cutting board designer free](http://cdn.instructables.com/F2K/PT4N/GHTLR58Y/F2KPT4NGHTLR58Y.MEDIUM.jpg)
However, there are signs that the wealth is beginning to spread. In 2017, growth of the average income of households in the 20th to 40th percentile outpaced the highest earners. In addition, the usual weekly earnings of full-time and salary workers in the 10th percentile—those near the very bottom—grew faster than any of the cohorts above them in seven of the last eight quarters.
In sum, the evidence is clear that the recovery since the Great Recession has favored wealthier households—but this imbalance has shown signs of easing since 2017, likely thanks to the tight labor market. This broadening of the recovery has implications for the distribution of goods that are sold. Luxury retailers and discount stores have been doing well to date, but now businesses offering goods and services aimed at the middle class are likely to gain some more traction.
What's ahead?
Given the healthy positioning of U.S. consumers, the retail sales outlook for the holiday season is strong. Real consumer spending is currently on track to score a respectable 2.6 percent growth rate in 2018, according to IHS Markit's latest forecast. We forecast total retail sales and food services to grow 5.2 percent in 2018. Holiday retail sales grew 5.3 percent in 2017 over the year before, which was the best year since 2005; we currently forecast continued strength this year with 4.7-percent growth.
Not all categories of consumer spending will do equally well. Auto sales have been a driving force for consumer spending in recent years, powered by pent-up demand after the Great Recession. This dynamic has now mostly played itself out, freeing up dollars for consumers to spend on other goods and services, which will see a boost. The pace of auto sales over the next three months will be below the levels of a year earlier; we forecast retail sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers to fall at a 3.0-percent annualized rate in the fourth quarter, down from a 0.3-percent growth rate in the third. Tariffs also threaten to do damage to sales of automobiles and other durable goods in the medium term.
While solid consumer fundamentals are a tailwind for all retailers, those with a prominent online presence are on track to capture a larger share of consumer spending going forward, including during this holiday season. Nonstore retailers' sales were up 11.4 percent year-on-year in September and are expected to maintain comparable or higher rates for the next two years. The relentless growth of the e-commerce sales channel has given brick-and-mortar establishments serious headaches; retail store closings hit a record in 2017 and are on pace to surpass it again this year. E-commerce as a share of retail sales excluding gasoline, auto dealers, food and beverages, and food services reached an all-time high of 17.5 percent in the second quarter, and we expect this to surpass the 20 percent mark by mid-2020. After growth of 11.4 percent in 2017, we forecast online holiday sales to grow 12.0 percent this year.
In sum, U.S. consumers are in a strong position, bolstered by a tight labor market, the benefits of which are gradually spreading across all income levels. This means that supply chain managers should expect to see robust purchasing activity going forward, which is forcing retailers to bolster their stocks of inventories—even as an increasing proportion of these inventories flow to nonstore merchants.
Notes:
1. IHS Markit defines holiday retail sales as not-seasonally-adjusted November plus December retail sales excluding autos, gas, and food services.
2. Online holiday sales are defined as not-seasonally adjusted November plus December electronic shopping and mail-order retail sales.
Chris G. Christopher, Jr., is executive director of the U.S. Macro and Global Economics practice at the research and analysis firm IHS Markit. David Deull is a senior economist at the economic research and analysis firm IHS Markit.
chris.christopher at ihsmarkit.comdavid.deull at ihsmarkit.comJoin the Discussion
After you comment, click Post. If you're not already logged in, you will be asked to log in or register.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Want more articles like this? Sign up for a free subscription to Supply Chain Executive Insight, a monthly e-newsletter that provides insights and commentary on supply chain trends and developments. Click here to subscribe.
We Want to Hear From You! We invite you to share your thoughts and opinions about this article by sending an e-mail to ?Subject=Letter to the Editor: Quarter 2018: The state of the American consumer'>. We will publish selected readers' comments in future issues of CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly. Correspondence may be edited for clarity or for length.
- Trade wars and tariffs: Understanding the risks to your supply chain (Quarter 3 2019)
- What is going to come out of 'the sausage factory'? (Quarter 3 2019)
- No silver bullet (Quarter 3 2019)
- Should we listen to conventional wisdom? (Quarter 3 2019)